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Major Events of December 2012: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from December 2012 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of December 2012: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Dec 2012 North Korea Announces Satellite Launch Amid International Tension: North Korea's state agency KCNA announced plans to launch a satellite between December 10-22, strategically timed near Kim Jong-il's death anniversary and South Korea's presidential election. Western officials suspected the launch was actually a missile technology test.
  • 02 Dec 2012 Sasago Tunnel Collapse in Japan: A catastrophic tunnel collapse occurred in Japan's Sasago Tunnel, trapping 30 vehicles and resulting in at least 9 fatalities. This tragic incident highlighted significant infrastructure safety concerns.
  • 03 Dec 2012 Royal Pregnancy Announcement: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced they were expecting their first child, with the potential heir being third in line to the British throne. The Duchess was hospitalized for severe morning sickness.
  • 04 Dec 2012 Syrian Civil War Escalates with Deadly School Attack: The Syrian Civil War intensified near Damascus, with a devastating mortar attack on a school in Bteha, a small town north of the capital. The state news agency SANA reported at least 29 fatalities, while activists claimed an additional 9 deaths. In response to the escalating conflict, NATO deployed Patriot missiles in Turkey to protect its citizens.
  • 05 Dec 2012 Typhoon Bopha Devastates Philippines: Typhoon Bopha caused severe destruction in the Philippines, resulting in at least 283 deaths, 339 injuries, hundreds missing, and over 87,000 people evacuated, highlighting the region's vulnerability to extreme weather events.
  • 06 Dec 2012 Egyptian Political Protests: Violent clashes erupted in Cairo between supporters and opponents of President Mohamed Morsi, resulting in at least 7 deaths and over 770 injuries. The Egyptian Army deployed tanks and armored troop carriers to secure the Presidential Palace, highlighting the intense political tensions in the country.
  • 07 Dec 2012 Hamas Leader's Controversial Speech: Khaled Mashal, Hamas' leader in exile, delivered a provocative speech asserting that Palestinians would never compromise on Israel's existence and expressing intentions to gradually conquer the region to establish an Islamic state.
  • 08 Dec 2012 Syrian Civil War Escalates: Tensions escalated in the Syrian Civil War as Russia supplied Syria with Iskander rockets in response to NATO's Patriot missile defense system installation in Turkey. Intense fighting erupted in Damascus, with rebels declaring Damascus International Airport a legitimate military target.
  • 09 Dec 2012 Lionel Messi Breaks Goal-Scoring Record: Barcelona's Lionel Messi made history by scoring his 85th and 86th goals in a calendar year, surpassing Gerd Muller's 1972 record of 85 goals in a remarkable display of footballing excellence.
  • 10 Dec 2012 European Union Receives Nobel Peace Prize: European Union leaders accept the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, recognizing the organization's contributions to peace and unity in Europe.
  • 11 Dec 2012 US Recognizes Syrian Rebel Opposition: President Barack Obama officially recognized Syria's rebel opposition as the "legitimate representatives of the Syrian people", marking a significant diplomatic shift in the Syrian Civil War.
  • 12 Dec 2012 U.S. Recognizes Syrian Opposition: President Obama officially recognized the Syrian opposition coalition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people, challenging the Assad regime. This diplomatic move was coordinated with other Western and Gulf nations during the Friends of Syria meeting in Morocco.
  • 13 Dec 2012 Deadly Car Bombing in Syria: A catastrophic car bomb exploded in Qatana, located 25km southwest of Damascus, resulting in at least 16 fatalities and 25 injuries. This attack follows a similar explosion near the Interior Ministry building that killed five people, highlighting the ongoing violence in the Syrian civil war.
  • 14 Dec 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School Massacre: A devastating mass shooting occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 children and 6 adults were tragically killed by gunman Adam Lanza. This horrific event shocked the nation and reignited intense debates about gun control and school safety.
  • 15 Dec 2012 Egyptian Constitutional Referendum: Egyptian voters participate in a highly contentious constitutional referendum, marked by preceding violent clashes in Alexandria. High voter turnout caused polling stations to remain open four hours longer than initially planned.
  • 16 Dec 2012 Typhoon Bopha Devastates Philippines: The death toll from Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines reached 1,020, with 844 people still missing. Most of the missing were fishermen lost at sea. Nearly 27,000 people remained in shelters more than two weeks after the storm.
  • 17 Dec 2012 Large Hadron Collider Completes First Proton Run: The Large Hadron Collider finished its first proton run and will be closed for renovations until 2015, marking a significant milestone in particle physics research.
  • 18 Dec 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Attends Cabinet Meeting: Queen Elizabeth II made history by attending a Cabinet meeting, a first for a British monarch since Queen Victoria. She received a gift honoring her Diamond Jubilee, including a British Antarctic Territory named after her.
  • 19 Dec 2012 Park Geun-hye Becomes First Female President of South Korea: Park Geun-hye was elected as the first female president of South Korea, marking a significant milestone in the country's political history. She won the presidential election with a substantial majority, representing the conservative Saenuri Party and defeating her opponent Moon Jae-in from the Democratic United Party.
  • 20 Dec 2012 Rwandan Genocide Perpetrator Sentenced: Augustin Ngirabatware, a former Rwandan minister, was sentenced for his involvement in the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, continuing the international legal process of holding responsible parties accountable for the mass atrocities.
  • 21 Dec 2012 YouTube Milestone: Gangnam Style Reaches 1 Billion Views: "Gangnam Style" by South Korean singer PSY becomes the first YouTube video to reach 1 billion views, marking a significant moment in digital media and global pop culture.
  • 22 Dec 2012 Delhi Gang Rape Protests: Protesters in New Delhi demonstrating against the brutal gang rape of a female student were forcefully dispersed using tear gas and water cannons, sparking national outrage about sexual violence and women's safety in India.
  • 23 Dec 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary Final Funerals: The last funerals were held for child victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, memorializing Josephine Gay (7), Ana Marquez-Greene (6), and Emilie Parker (6), among the 20 children and six adults killed in the tragic massacre.
  • 24 Dec 2012 NATO Adviser Killed in Afghanistan: A tragic incident in Kabul, Afghanistan, where a NATO adviser was shot to death by an Afghan woman wearing a police uniform. Simultaneously, at least five Afghan policemen were killed by another officer in northern Afghanistan.
  • 25 Dec 2012 Syrian Civil War: Rebels Seize Harem: Syrian rebels captured the strategic city of Harem in Idlib Governorate, located near the Turkish border and approximately 55 kilometers west of Aleppo. Pope Benedict XVI simultaneously called for a political solution to the ongoing conflict.
  • 26 Dec 2012 Nelson Mandela Discharged from Hospital: Nelson Mandela, the iconic South African anti-apartheid leader and former president, is released from Pretoria hospital to continue medical care at home after a two-week stay for gallstone removal and lung infection.
  • 27 Dec 2012 General Norman Schwarzkopf Dies: Retired General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., the renowned commander of combined coalition forces during the Gulf War, passes away at 78 due to pneumonia complications.
  • 28 Dec 2012 Tragic Rape Case Highlights Indian Social Issues: A 17-year-old rape victim commits suicide after being pressured by local police to marry her attacker, sparking national outrage about systemic failures in addressing sexual violence in India.
  • 29 Dec 2012 Delhi Gang Rape Case: A 23-year-old Indian woman, who was brutally gang-raped in Delhi on December 16, died from her injuries at a Singapore hospital. This tragic incident sparked widespread protests and national discussions about women's safety and sexual violence in India.
  • 30 Dec 2012 Higgs Boson Breakthrough: Science magazine names the confirmation of the Higgs boson's existence as the 2012 Breakthrough of the Year, a monumental achievement in particle physics.
  • 31 Dec 2012 U.S. Fiscal Cliff Negotiations: The White House and congressional Republicans engaged in intense negotiations over the 'fiscal cliff' deal. Despite reaching an agreement, the House of Representatives did not vote, causing the U.S. to technically go over the fiscal cliff at midnight.